Top Army, Navy Units Readied For Red-Shirts Dispersal

[JohnLeech]

Time they went back to picking rice which there is nothing wrong with and leaving politics to those with the education and ability to practice.... Looking like a major victory for democracy.

I must have got it wrong (again). I thought "democracy" was about everybody having an equal voice, not just those with "the education". Silly me.

[hammered]

Let's hope they return one day - free press and free speech is a sign of a mature democracy - which tells us? we have a long way to go - I often see Thailand (no offence to Thais) as politically 12 years old - not even into their teens yet whereas developed nations can often be in their 30s and 40s - it's the way it is.

Indeed the hope and energy in 93 were palpable but somewhere it all went wrong. While Suchinda was sent to retirement the old and some new power brokers were still there and all the systems were still in place. I think even if you have instant red victory today you will see a rpeat of that. There will still be the old power brokers plus a few new ones. Then again Thailand has only been a democracy for a relatively short time compared to developed nations and cant be compared. How they rate to other same stage democracies I havent had time to compare, probablky osmewhere in the middle I owulkd guess but relatively at a lesser point than a few years ago and definitely compared to the (false) dawn of 93

[termad]

Forgive me if I'm mistaken.

But I thought the whole point of Special Operations deployments was that you don't tell the other side you're coming

They were actually reported in The Nation as saying that they were going to secretly (?) place soldiers on the roofs of high rise buildings around the area. Figure that one!

[JohnLeech]

I dunno why there's such intense denial by certain people of realities.

Well, I dunno why certain people seem unable to give any evidence of these supposed realities, such as the repeated use of these specific units whenever the need arises.

[JohnLeech]

At least the press is free to say what it wants at the moment (and we also fall into this category on TV). Alot of folks seem to have forgotten what it was like in Thailand before the coup.

And a lot of folks seem to have forgotten who owns and controls the TV stations.

Channel 3 is owned by a family whose son was in Thaksin's cabinet.

... and the rest?

[Publicus]

I dunno why there's such intense denial by certain people of realities.

Well, I dunno why certain people seem unable to give any evidence of these supposed realities, such as the repeated use of these specific units whenever the need arises.

Again, as I again repeat it - again - the 2nd Infantry, the 11th Infantry, the 12th Infantry, the 21st Infantry......the Nahorn Rachisima garrison.........post to suit yourself.......I'm not going to continue to put the information under your nose and do it repeatedly while despite the information I present to you, you continue to repeat that there isn't any information, there aren't any specifics, nothing in detail.

And for the last time, I'm not in denial about the importance of networking, class year, rank etc among an officer and his pals in the military, at the level of flag rank especially. GK and you are accurate in this respect. Your denial of special units is however inexplicable.

[JohnLeech]

I dunno why there's such intense denial by certain people of realities.

Well, I dunno why certain people seem unable to give any evidence of these supposed realities, such as the repeated use of these specific units whenever the need arises.

Again, as I again repeat it - again - the 2nd Infantry, the 11th Infantry, the 12th Infantry, the 21st Infantry......the Nahorn Rachisima garrison.........post to suit yourself.......I'm not going to continue to put the information under your nose and do it repeatedly while despite the information I present to you, you continue to repeat that there isn't any information, there aren't any specifics, nothing in detail.

I don't think anyone (certanly not me) is questioning which troops you refer to. What I am questioning, and I really don't know how I can put it any more clearly, is "evidence of these supposed realities, such as the repeated use of these specific units whenever the need arises." These particular troops were used (if that is the right word) once (ONCE) in the bloodless counter-coup to the equally bloodless coup of April 1 1981 when Prem escorted the Royal family to his old unit in Nakhorn Ratchasima; as Manoon and the other coup leaders surrendered publicly after the Queen broadcast a radio message from there saying that the coup did not have royal support there was never any question of any conflict of military loyalty. In the 1985 coup, again led by Manoon, there were casualties but your specially trained, loyal, hand-picked troops were not used to quell it.

What I find inexplicable is why you keep on posting what is clearly absolute rubbish without even trying to back it up.

On a different subject, which I find equally inexplicable but far more indicative of the state of Thai politics (and far more amusing), is how Manoon (now Manoonkrit) was cashiered from the Army as a Colonel in 1981 after the failed 1981 coup, also led the failed 1985 coup, but still went on to become Speaker of the Senate as a Major General. Amazing Thailand indeed!!

[Publicus]

I dunno why there's such intense denial by certain people of realities.

Well, I dunno why certain people seem unable to give any evidence of these supposed realities, such as the repeated use of these specific units whenever the need arises.

Again, as I again repeat it - again - the 2nd Infantry, the 11th Infantry, the 12th Infantry, the 21st Infantry......the Nahorn Rachisima garrison.........post to suit yourself.......I'm not going to continue to put the information under your nose and do it repeatedly while despite the information I present to you, you continue to repeat that there isn't any information, there aren't any specifics, nothing in detail.

I don't think anyone (certanly not me) is questioning which troops you refer to. What I am questioning, and I really don't know how I can put it any more clearly, is "evidence of these supposed realities, such as the repeated use of these specific units whenever the need arises." These particular troops were used (if that is the right word) once (ONCE) in the bloodless counter-coup to the equally bloodless coup of April 1 1981 when Prem escorted the Royal family to his old unit in Nakhorn Ratchasima; as Manoon and the other coup leaders surrendered publicly after the Queen broadcast a radio message from there saying that the coup did not have royal support there was never any question of any conflict of military loyalty. In the 1985 coup, again led by Manoon, there were casualties but your specially trained, loyal, hand-picked troops were not used to quell it.

What I find inexplicable is why you keep on posting what is clearly absolute rubbish without even trying to back it up.

On a different subject, which I find equally inexplicable but far more indicative of the state of Thai politics (and far more amusing), is how Manoon (now Manoonkrit) was cashiered from the Army as a Colonel in 1981 after the failed 1981 coup, also led the failed 1985 coup, but still went on to become Speaker of the Senate as a Major General. Amazing Thailand indeed!!

The Queen's statement was read over radio by an aide to Gen PM Prem though it was made clear that the message was composed by the Queen herself, and which in part included the contents you ascribe to it in your post above.

In 1983, after the unsuccessful April Fool's coup of April 1-3, 1981 which as you mention saw Gen PM Prem and the Royal Family relocate to the loyalist garrison at Nakhon Rachasima, the Royal Palace initiated the formation of a new "Executive Protection" unit exclusively for HM The King, the Naresuan 261 Special Operations Unit. This unit consists of 94 platoons of specially trained personnel to include dozens of snipers, experts in explosives and among other specialties is well trained in urban operations.

Later by Royal Decree (Proclamation No. 14) the Naresuan 261 Special Operations unit was attached to another loyalist unit since 1953, the Border Patrol Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit (BPPARU). The Naresuan unit kept its distinct ID tag within the BPPARU. Since 1957 the BPPARU has admitted to its officer corps those among the top 50 graduates of the police academy who also undergo specialized military training. The 50 top grads are admitted on an as-needed, ongoing basis to replace retiring or reassigned officers.

The BPPARU was organized in 1953 with the assistance of the seconded to Thailand CIA officer James William "Bill" Lair (who by Royal Appointment became an active member of the new unit). Lair also established and with the Thai Government operated the South East Asia Supply Company (aka: Sea Supply) which equipped, supplied and armed the unit. The BPPARU in 1957 was assigned to a newly built facility in Hua Hin which happened to be directly across the road from a favorite Summer Royal Palace.

But let's talk more about the Naresuan 261 Special Operations Unit, the exclusive "Executive Protection" unit of HM The King, which also is the "Executive Escort" unit of Her Royal Highness Princess Siridhorn on most of her distance travel outside the Royal Palace. This unit of 94 platoons trains in the US, Australia and Germany with the respective militaries there. It also participates in the US sponsored annual military exercises in Thailand, Operation Cobra Gold which involves several militaries of the region and invites observers from about 20 countries of the region as of 2009.

*In October 1999 Naresuan 261 successfully diffused the Burmese student takeover crisis of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok, removing the occupying students without loss of life to then deposit them by helicopter inside the Myanmar border.

*During January 24-25, 2000 Naresuan 261 disabled the "terrorist" seizing and occupation of the Rachabui Hospital in that province where terrorists held hospital staff and patients hostage. Naresuan 261 soldiers entered the hospital posing as a new shift of medical personnel then proceded to kill every one of the dozens of terrorists, most of whom were shot between the eyes at close range, with no loss of civilian life or any of the specialist soldiers of Naresuan 261.

*During Nov 22-23 2000 Naresuan 261 successfully secured the release of all hostages in the Karen-Burmese Rebellion (riot) in Samutprakarn Province Prison without loss of either civilian life or the lives of any members of Naresuan 261.

We have yet to see these units in action during the present SOE, but I expect we'll be seeing not only these specific specialized units, but others as well.

Edited April 21, 2010 by Publicus

[sid1967]

It seems like the intense suffering and pain the Thai people create at the moment for themselfs is the only way society can chcange ?

I saw this movie yesterday called "Zeitgeist" and it was a quite interesting vision of a different world. QUite a eyeopener to the system we living in right now. Available through Google VIdeo.

I wonder what ThaiVisa Forum users have to say about the movie...(other then the usual "supposed to be funny" stuff)

PS: Farang also distorted....but we kill people in other countrys usually and not our fellow citizens.

[JohnLeech]

In 1983 .... the Royal Palace initiated the formation of a new "Executive Protection" unit exclusively for HM The King, the Naresuan 261 Special Operations Unit. This unit consists of 94 platoons of specially trained personnel to include dozens of snipers, experts in explosives and among other specialties is well trained in urban operations.....blah, blah, blah, ..... more irrelevant rubbish ..... blah, blah, blah, ..... more wildly inaccurate rubbish ....

We have yet to see these units in action during the present SOE, but I expect we'll be seeing not only these specific specialized units, but others as well.

SO WHAT??

This is a POLICE unit, not a military one, with no connection with the military units you have previously talked about (repeatedly and at length).

Apart from the entire post having nothing to do with your imaginary hand-picked specially loyal military units it is also laughably inaccurate. The entire unit consists of one company of five platoons, formed and trained along GSG-9 (police) lines. "94 platoons" would indicate a unit nearly the size of a military Division! Similarly, although not quite so inaccurate even if it was just as imaginative, there were actually ten (10) members of "God's Army" involved in the bizarre takeover of the Rachaburi hospital, most of whom were armed with suicide bombs not firearms, not "dozens".

Do keep trying, though ... no-one can be wrong all the time and the chances are that sooner or later you will get something right.

[hammered]

Hey guys dont forget the ultra elite SWAT unit of Pattaya under the command of Sifu

[anotherpeter]

Time they went back to picking rice which there is nothing wrong with and leaving politics to those with the education and ability to practice.... Looking like a major victory for democracy.

I must have got it wrong (again). I thought "democracy" was about everybody having an equal voice, not just those with "the education". Silly me.

They do have a vote. They have an equal voice.

But the vote of a minority should not be shoved down the throats of the majority of Thailand.

They have some very valid grievences.

But forcing an elected government out of power through violence and terrorism is not the way to deal with those grievences.

IMO, bringing Thaksin is not the way to deal with those grievences either.

There is too much corruption in Thailand. If the reds want a better life, then they should deal with that.

[JohnLeech]

Time they went back to picking rice which there is nothing wrong with and leaving politics to those with the education and ability to practice.... Looking like a major victory for democracy.

I must have got it wrong (again). I thought "democracy" was about everybody having an equal voice, not just those with "the education". Silly me.

They do have a vote. They have an equal voice.

But the vote of a minority should not be shoved down the throats of the majority of Thailand....

IMO, bringing Thaksin is not the way to deal with those grievences either....

Agreed, on all levels.

One of the worries of at least some of the reds is that their vote/voice wil no longer be "equal" if the constitution is amended; Kasit and the "yellows" wanted an electoral system where everyone had a vote, but some counted far more than others as only 30% of MPs would be elected with the remaining 70% nominated by professional groups, such as lawyers, directors, military and police officers, etc. Abhisit has not gone that far, but he has voiced support for a system of 50% elected and 50% nominated. That is not "democracy" as I understand it.

[Publicus]

In 1983 .... the Royal Palace initiated the formation of a new "Executive Protection" unit exclusively for HM The King, the Naresuan 261 Special Operations Unit. This unit consists of 94 platoons of specially trained personnel to include dozens of snipers, experts in explosives and among other specialties is well trained in urban operations.....blah, blah, blah, ..... more irrelevant rubbish ..... blah, blah, blah, ..... more wildly inaccurate rubbish ....

We have yet to see these units in action during the present SOE, but I expect we'll be seeing not only these specific specialized units, but others as well.

SO WHAT??

This is a POLICE unit, not a military one, with no connection with the military units you have previously talked about (repeatedly and at length).

Apart from the entire post having nothing to do with your imaginary hand-picked specially loyal military units it is also laughably inaccurate. The entire unit consists of one company of five platoons, formed and trained along GSG-9 (police) lines. "94 platoons" would indicate a unit nearly the size of a military Division! Similarly, although not quite so inaccurate even if it was just as imaginative, there were actually ten (10) members of "God's Army" involved in the bizarre takeover of the Rachaburi hospital, most of whom were armed with suicide bombs not firearms, not "dozens".

Do keep trying, though ... no-one can be wrong all the time and the chances are that sooner or later you will get something right.

http://www.nationreligionking.com/police/borderpatrol/paru/naresuan261/

For whatever reason the link won't display when clicked, which is also true of another similar link in a post I tried to make to another thread earler today. I and another at TV have been trying to access certain of the links directly from TVF but have been unable to do so. I've quadruple checked the accuracy of the link as I've posted it, the link is precisely accurate. But the page never displays.

I'd suggest following this route: Google "Thailand Coup Units".

Also: Google "Thailand Coups" and/or <GlobalSecurity.com> At <GlobalSecurity.com> search for the same, i.e., "Thailand Coup Units" and/or "Thailand Coups".

Neither can anyone at TV figure why <nationreligionking.com> won't display when the link to it is posted at TVF.

Access these sites and it becomes clear that JohnLeech is an impossible character to deal with.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Publicus

[JohnLeech]

Thailand is a land of simple people (definition: not hugely educated, no real understanding of democracy, wont to believe those of higher status), easily manipulated as a mass and what they need is a government who understands democracy, who can truly educate the nation's children and who can create a land that fits the peaceful buddhist images that are associated with this land. For the first time Thailand has a prime minister who understands these issues....

(I posted this on another thread, but it is worth repeating)

Why? It was condecending and uninformed there, so why should it be any better here?

One of Abhisit's problems is that he has spent so much of his life outside Thailand that he does not "understand these issues", and even if he did he would not be "the first".

[JohnLeech]

In 1983 .... the Royal Palace initiated the formation of a new "Executive Protection" unit exclusively for HM The King, the Naresuan 261 Special Operations Unit. This unit consists of 94 platoons of specially trained personnel to include dozens of snipers, experts in explosives and among other specialties is well trained in urban operations.....blah, blah, blah, ..... more irrelevant rubbish ..... blah, blah, blah, ..... more wildly inaccurate rubbish ....

We have yet to see these units in action during the present SOE, but I expect we'll be seeing not only these specific specialized units, but others as well.

SO WHAT??

This is a POLICE unit, not a military one, with no connection with the military units you have previously talked about (repeatedly and at length).

Apart from the entire post having nothing to do with your imaginary hand-picked specially loyal military units it is also laughably inaccurate. The entire unit consists of one company of five platoons, formed and trained along GSG-9 (police) lines. "94 platoons" would indicate a unit nearly the size of a military Division! Similarly, although not quite so inaccurate even if it was just as imaginative, there were actually ten (10) members of "God's Army" involved in the bizarre takeover of the Rachaburi hospital, most of whom were armed with suicide bombs not firearms, not "dozens".

Do keep trying, though ... no-one can be wrong all the time and the chances are that sooner or later you will get something right.

http://www.nationreligionking.com/police/borderpatrol/paru/naresuan261/

Your link includes the following (I have underlned the relevant parts for you):

In late 1986, a Royal Decree, proclamation number 14, reorganzied the Royal Thai Police and Naraesuan 261 was assigned as 4th company under the Border Patrol Police's Aerial Reinforcement Unit (PARU).

Special Operations Unit "Naraesuan 261" has the responsibility of counter-terrorism and resulting criminal cases. The company also plays an important role as executive protection for His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family when they travel around Thailand. Furthermore, the company acts as escorts for other foreign dignitaries and heads of state visiting Thailand.

4th Company, Border Patrol Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit, consists of a Company division with a raid platoon , ambush and patrol platoon , explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) platoon , training platoon , and supporting platoon. Initial training was performed by members of the Royal Thai Police Department.Teams are divided up into units of 5 people following the model set up by Germany's GSG-9.

Your link indicates that of the five (5) platoons I said made up the unit, two (2) are training and support platoons, leaving three (3) operational platoons (a normal company size). What part of that don't you understand?

What has this to do with your post concerning those special hand-picked, fiercely loyal military units, or "the 2nd Infantry, the 11th Infantry, the 12th Infantry, the 21st Infantry......the Nahorn Rachisima garrison" you named before?

(Edit: let me help you with accessing your link. Google naresuan special operations unit then click on the first entry. Does that make it any clearer?

Sorry you find me "an impossible character to deal with"; maybe when you stop making things up to suit your own agenda, whatever that is, it will become easier)

Edited April 22, 2010 by JohnLeech

[Publicus]

Thailand is a land of simple people (definition: not hugely educated, no real understanding of democracy, wont to believe those of higher status), easily manipulated as a mass and what they need is a government who understands democracy, who can truly educate the nation's children and who can create a land that fits the peaceful buddhist images that are associated with this land. For the first time Thailand has a prime minister who understands these issues....

(I posted this on another thread, but it is worth repeating)

Why? It was condecending and uninformed there, so why should it be any better here?

One of Abhisit's problems is that he has spent so much of his life outside Thailand that he does not "understand these issues", and even if he did he would not be "the first".

Quite to the contrary JohnLeech. A great strength of Abhisit is that he was significantly raised in the UK and is a product of the UK educative system right up through Oxbridge. This provides this Thai person with a rare perspective that allows him to be both Thai and have a strong farang formative experience, which is the kind of person Thailand needs to escape its rut of having only political clowns and hacks in its government, military, corporate community and a culture which is decrepit and in need of invigoration by "new blood" as it were.

You're off again slashing and burning, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail that only you could leave.

[JohnLeech]

You're off again slashing and burning, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail that only you could leave.

At last - a post from Publicus that I am happy with as it is clearly his opinion, which he is fully entitled to, rather than his version of what are supposed to be facts which are consistently incorrect.

[Publicus]

In 1983 .... the Royal Palace initiated the formation of a new "Executive Protection" unit exclusively for HM The King, the Naresuan 261 Special Operations Unit. This unit consists of 94 platoons of specially trained personnel to include dozens of snipers, experts in explosives and among other specialties is well trained in urban operations.....blah, blah, blah, ..... more irrelevant rubbish ..... blah, blah, blah, ..... more wildly inaccurate rubbish ....

We have yet to see these units in action during the present SOE, but I expect we'll be seeing not only these specific specialized units, but others as well.

SO WHAT??

This is a POLICE unit, not a military one, with no connection with the military units you have previously talked about (repeatedly and at length).

Apart from the entire post having nothing to do with your imaginary hand-picked specially loyal military units it is also laughably inaccurate. The entire unit consists of one company of five platoons, formed and trained along GSG-9 (police) lines. "94 platoons" would indicate a unit nearly the size of a military Division! Similarly, although not quite so inaccurate even if it was just as imaginative, there were actually ten (10) members of "God's Army" involved in the bizarre takeover of the Rachaburi hospital, most of whom were armed with suicide bombs not firearms, not "dozens".

Do keep trying, though ... no-one can be wrong all the time and the chances are that sooner or later you will get something right.

http://www.nationreligionking.com/police/borderpatrol/paru/naresuan261/

Your link includes the following (I have underlned the relevant parts for you):

In late 1986, a Royal Decree, proclamation number 14, reorganzied the Royal Thai Police and Naraesuan 261 was assigned as 4th company under the Border Patrol Police's Aerial Reinforcement Unit (PARU).

Special Operations Unit "Naraesuan 261" has the responsibility of counter-terrorism and resulting criminal cases. The company also plays an important role as executive protection for His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family when they travel around Thailand. Furthermore, the company acts as escorts for other foreign dignitaries and heads of state visiting Thailand.

4th Company, Border Patrol Police Aerial Reinforcement Unit, consists of a Company division with a raid platoon , ambush and patrol platoon , explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) platoon , training platoon , and supporting platoon. Initial training was performed by members of the Royal Thai Police Department.Teams are divided up into units of 5 people following the model set up by Germany's GSG-9.

Your link indicates that of the five (5) platoons I said made up the unit, two (2) are training and support platoons, leaving three (3) operational platoons (a normal company size). What part of that don't you understand?

What has this to do with your post concerning those special hand-picked, fiercely loyal military units, or "the 2nd Infantry, the 11th Infantry, the 12th Infantry, the 21st Infantry......the Nahorn Rachisima garrison" you named before?

(Edit: let me help you with accessing your link. Google naresuan special operations unit then click on the first entry. Does that make it any clearer?

Sorry you find me "an impossible character to deal with"; maybe when you stop making things up to suit your own agenda, whatever that is, it will become easier)

You have presented to include underlining your relevant parts for yourself and for your own puposes, whatever they may be. I rather cut to the chase in my post, eliminating a lot of extraneous and sundry material which is of no interest or relevance to anyone here as a quick glance at your selected boring and droll information readily attests.

*Your reference is to a Division of troops.....so typically how many troops are there in the a division size unit of the Thai army? (No comparason, but to mention in the US Army its typically 10,000.......during WW2 typically 20,000.)

*I'd already several times identified the Infantry units you clearly love to see on a repeated basis only to say 'so what' every time I include them in a post. I'd advised you I no longer would be repeating the same information in posts related to your density dificulty. I notice that this time you yourself mentioned them - at least by now you seem to know the units of which I speak.

*I said the Naresuan 261 soldiers who accessed the hospital shot and killed the God's Army terrorists, most shot between eyes.....I said nothing about the weapons the God's army possessed so I don't know what you're on about in that matter either.

Enuff........in short your selected excerpted (boring) material presented above poorly represents the vital information concerning the units which I have presented. You thereby attempt to deflect and redirect the discussion away from my posts and the much better selected information I present.

But then making a post that is better, incisive, more relevant and clearly more material than yours above is what this is all about, isn't it.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Publicus

[chadintheusa]

The top army units are in position, tonight may be the last chance for them to act. After the grenade attacks tonight the anti red mob will be out for blood tomorrow. Anupong should do his duty and disperse the reds tonight or there is no telling what the weekend may hold.

[animatic]

PM holds emergency meeting on Silom attacks; legal advisers study Civil Court injunction

Well this Civil Injunction coupled with Guerrilla Attacks and Train Hijacking,

may well mean Marshal Law is forced because the governments hands are now tied.

But it would appear action is required.

All too sad.

Edited April 22, 2010 by animatic

[chadintheusa]

Gen Anupong has had his chance. Time to retire him and put someone in charge who will protect innocent people from terrorists.

[midas]

Thailand is a land of simple people (definition: not hugely educated, no real understanding of democracy, wont to believe those of higher status), easily manipulated as a mass and what they need is a government who understands democracy, who can truly educate the nation's children and who can create a land that fits the peaceful buddhist images that are associated with this land. For the first time Thailand has a prime minister who understands these issues....

(I posted this on another thread, but it is worth repeating)

Why? It was condecending and uninformed there, so why should it be any better here?

One of Abhisit's problems is that he has spent so much of his life outside Thailand that he does not "understand these issues", and even if he did he would not be "the first".

Quite to the contrary JohnLeech. A great strength of Abhisit is that he was significantly raised in the UK and is a product of the UK educative system right up through Oxbridge. This provides this Thai person with a rare perspective that allows him to be both Thai and have a strong farang formative experience, which is the kind of person Thailand needs to escape its rut of having only political clowns and hacks in its government, military, corporate community and a culture which is decrepit and in need of invigoration by "new blood" as it were.

You're off again slashing and burning, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail that only you could leave.

so if you have an Oxford degree you are somehow expemt from having to be elected as PM by the people of Thailand ?

astonishing

[chadintheusa]

Reds have no qualms about killing women. So if they want to use women as human shields don't let that stop the police from going after these cowards.

[bucatini70]

Time they went back to picking rice which there is nothing wrong with and leaving politics to those with the education and ability to practice.... Looking like a major victory for democracy.

I must have got it wrong (again). I thought "democracy" was about everybody having an equal voice, not just those with "the education". Silly me.

yes you are exactly correct an equal voice.....that though does not equate to the ability to hold an office or lead that should be left to qualified people

[bucatini70]

some red shirts said that they'd know if soldiers were heading their way if the 24-hour convenience stores suddenly started shutting down and mobile phone signals were cut off.

-- The Nation 2010-04-21

lets do that then

shut 'em down & switch 'em off and let the dog see the rabbit.....

Who is "let's" - You are in Singapore? Why are you so keen for a full-on fight here in Thailand? I am not stalking you just amazed at what you advocate?

why are you amazed?

there was no mention of a full on fight in my post

in fact most of my posts advocate scaring the enemy not killing them

i was in Bangkok yesterday now i am back in Singapore

in my opinion, this is a good strategy

use the reds own paranoid thoughts against them

close the stores, block the mobiles and see who moves to action

it may reveal the positions and identitys of the violent protaganists without a shot being fired by anyone

it might just save the lives of some of the more general protestors who aren't toting guns and ready to kill

isn't that a good thing?

Singapore have nothing to gain.

When western tourist avoid Thailand, they will avoid Asia all together. Singapore lose out too.

Singapore & Thailand are best friend. Friends for life.

this is true that Singapore has nothing to gain but there are plenty of countries that do from tourism such as Vietnam, Laos, Bali, Cambodia to name a few

[Publicus]

Thailand is a land of simple people (definition: not hugely educated, no real understanding of democracy, wont to believe those of higher status), easily manipulated as a mass and what they need is a government who understands democracy, who can truly educate the nation's children and who can create a land that fits the peaceful buddhist images that are associated with this land. For the first time Thailand has a prime minister who understands these issues....

(I posted this on another thread, but it is worth repeating)

Why? It was condecending and uninformed there, so why should it be any better here?

One of Abhisit's problems is that he has spent so much of his life outside Thailand that he does not "understand these issues", and even if he did he would not be "the first".

Quite to the contrary JohnLeech. A great strength of Abhisit is that he was significantly raised in the UK and is a product of the UK educative system right up through Oxbridge. This provides this Thai person with a rare perspective that allows him to be both Thai and have a strong farang formative experience, which is the kind of person Thailand needs to escape its rut of having only political clowns and hacks in its government, military, corporate community and a culture which is decrepit and in need of invigoration by "new blood" as it were.

You're off again slashing and burning, wreaking havoc and leaving a trail that only you could leave.

so if you have an Oxford degree you are somehow expemt from having to be elected as PM by the people of Thailand ?

astonishing

Your use of chopsticks is rather clumsy trying to put words in my mouth and the slop you cook up is lousy besides.

Edited April 22, 2010 by Publicus

[4223rhodes]

Abhisit is detritus that must be swept away immediately.

[siampolee]

4223rhodes

Abhisit is detritus that must be swept away immediately.

And pray what or who do you intend should replace Abhisit ?

A regime dedicated to a Sino Thai kleptomaniac and his band of thieving thugs, the Burmese Generals, the Great leader from North Korea, resurrect Pol Pot, Ho Chi Min Mao Tse Tung Joe Stalin the list is endless.

If you feel so strongly that the system is flawed why are you still here ?

Edited April 22, 2010 by siampolee

[4223rhodes]

4223rhodes

Abhisit is detritus that must be swept away immediately.

And pray what or who do you intend should replace Abhisit ?

A regime dedicated to a Sino Thai kleptomaniac and his band of thieving thugs, the Burmese Generals, the Great leader from North Korea, resurrect Pol Pot, Ho Chi Min Mao Tse Tung Joe Stalin the list is endless.

If you feel so strongly that the system is flawed why are you still here ?

Because my family is Thai and the Thai people are lovely and deserve better than Abhisit and those in uniform who back him.